Politics - News Analysis
Body Language Expert Analyzes That Moment Trump Was Being Booed, ‘Disdain, Disgust, Repulsion, and Disappointment’
It was the boo heard around the world.
By now everyone has seen what happened during Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night…Donald Trump was booed and faced chants of “lock him up” while he attended the game with his wife Melania.
Perhaps Trump was expecting to receive a standing ovation…after all, Sunday morning he announced the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head if ISIS. Which is, gotta give it to him, quite an accomplishment.
However, it could not balance out all the horrific things he has done over the past three years, and the people at Nationals Park certainly reminded him of that.
Dr. Jack Brown, a body language expert has watched the video of Trump being booed, and gave an analysis of what was going through Trump’s head when he realized his worst nightmare was coming true.
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First, rewatch the video:
WATCH: President Trump met with loud boos as he is introduced at the World Series in Nationals Park on Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/4RTW8ZqxqP
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 28, 2019
God, I love that video. Just inject it straight into my veins.
Trump seemed excited when he saw that the stadium was reacting to his image on the screen, but his expression soured quickly as the boos and chants became obvious. Melania seemed to realize what was happening before her husband did.
So, let’s take a look at what the good Dr. Brown has to say.
1/ President Donald Trump was vigorously booed as he and the First Lady were introduced last night during the fifth game of baseball's World Series. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of Trump's reaction as seen in the accompanying video.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
2/ This first image (captured during 0:01) shows Donald Trump as he was in the act of standing up. Note his Inward Lip Roll as well as his Jaw Jut. pic.twitter.com/u7rIHOnhQf
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
3/ A Jaw Jut is a signal of an adrenaline surge. An Inward Lip Roll is typically a sign of one's psyche trying to suppress strong emotions, however, it can also be seen during moments of moderate to extreme physical exertion.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
4/ The President's nostrils are also flared significantly. Taken in toto, this nonverbal cluster indicates that the effort Mr. Trump had to put forth in order to stand up quickly from a seated position is, for him, a moderately physically demanding activity.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
5/ When he hears the announcer mention him and the First Lady, he rotates his head and neck to his right (0:10). Notice the expression on his face. His eyebrows and forehead are significantly elevated — while his eyelids are nearly closed. pic.twitter.com/8WWen2EfA3
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
6/ Trump's lips are pursed forward with a narrow opening (as if to say, "Oooouuu!").
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
7/ A split-second later, still rotating his head-neck, his mouth opens wider (As if to say, "Aaaahhh!"). pic.twitter.com/Ma5cYDlJBw
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
8/ Note his mouth opening is wider horizontally than it is vertically (although this camera angle makes this disparity somewhat less contrasting). Crucially, his lower teeth are visible.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
9/ The President's eyelids are still mostly closed while his forehead and eyebrows are retracting upwards (maintaining this opposite direction dynamic). True surprise is always accompanied by widely-opened eyelids.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
10/ A sincere (non-feigned) surprise would also have a dramatically vertically opened mouth (significantly taller than it is wide). In addition, teeth are not visible during moments of sincere surprise.
Trump's 'surprise' is acted — it's completely feigned.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
11/ After his head and neck are fully rotated and he's looking at Melania, Donald Trump displays, what for him, is rare — a Sincere (Duchenne) Smile. pic.twitter.com/XIjANsJkHT
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
12/ Note that just prior to this moment, Trump's:
• forehead is relaxed (and lowered)
• eyebrows are also relaxed
• eyelids are partially (mostly) closed,
• furrows in each of his lower eyelids are concave-upward
• mouth corners are pulled significantly upward— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
13/
• cheek muscles (zygomaticus major) are contracted and bunched upward
• only his upper teeth are visibleAll of these are components of a true smile of joy-happiness. At this moment, Trump hears only the cheer of the crowd and is delighted.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
14/ But just a few seconds later, Trump is displaying the first inkling that something is amiss (0:14). The crowd is booing loudly. Notice how red his face is growing (This image is not altered in any way). Watch it again, paying specific attention to the color change. pic.twitter.com/lwlp0gvSXM
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
15/ In this specific scenario, Trump's facial hue dynamic is caused by 3 factors:
A. Peripheral Vasodilation — blood vessels near surface of his skin on his face are growing wider in diameter. This physiology is involuntary &, in this emotional context, is a form of blushing.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
16/ B. Valsalva Manuever (an involuntary Valsalva, and here it's only partial), a moderately forceful attempted exhalation against a closed airway (in this case, partially closed).
C. Increased Abdominal Pressure (contracting one's "stomach" [abdominal musculature])
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
17/ At the 0:17 mark, he has no doubt — things have turned badly. He's sure of it now. Notice how full and red his face and neck have become. pic.twitter.com/xFvUv4CSxO
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
18/ Trump directs his gaze downward — for a moment not looking at himself on the Jumbotron (0:18). pic.twitter.com/UHylxaEFmt
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
19/ Three seconds later (0:21) he looks back at his image on the big screen while people are booing. Trump is embarrassed. He looks ill — as if his pain is physical, not emotional. pic.twitter.com/VFoToRgJQh
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
20/ Shortly after his lips close, the President makes this face (during 0:24). This is a highly characteristic expression of disdain, disgust, repulsion, and disappointment. Moreover, and profoundly, in this moment — all of these emotions are self-directed. pic.twitter.com/VDWpArkjkm
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
21/ If an actor needed to make this expression, they would be well-advised to bring to mind a strong memory of bitter self-disappointment and self-disgust.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
22/ And not surprisingly, to anyone who has studied nonverbal communication in-depth, the mere act of successfully recreating this expression will also bring about feelings of bitterness, disappointment, and self-disgust.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
23/ Observing carefully, you'll be able to see Donald Trump swallowing during the 0:24 mark as well. You can sense his stomach acid in his mouth. This is not a metaphor — rather it's literal.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
24/ For in the ten or so preceding seconds (as noted previously), Trump's intra-abdominal pressure increased and he's not inhaling — rather he's exhaling. His tongue is retracted and bunched in the back of his mouth.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
25/ Trump's facial expression in this moment is very similar to that seen during an involuntary and painful Valsalva maneuver together with increased intra-abdominal pressure (i.e., Bowel movement, or painful procedure, etc.).
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
26/ A distinct expression of Fear mixed with Painful Disbelief can be seen on Trump's face during the 0:26 mark. pic.twitter.com/zxBQVwDwbQ
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
27/ Trump hard-swallows during 0:29. He has a bitter taste in his mouth. Regret and (emotional) pain are prominent here. pic.twitter.com/dd9o782AZo
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
28/ During the 0:33 mark (just prior to the camera fade-out), we see Trump display what is known as a Tight Tongue Jut. A tight tongue jut is a signal for the thought-emotions of:
• Disdain
• Disgust
• Repulsion pic.twitter.com/6oud4ncS3y— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
29/ Take care not to confuse a Tight Tongue Jut with a Loose Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut, for all three indicate entirely different thought-emotions.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
30/ At this moment, Trump is feeling a combination of both Regret and Contempt (0:40). pic.twitter.com/nvvdk8UIm2
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
31/ After he sits back down (0:48), Trump again looks physically unwell — as if he were in considerable physical pain. His pain, however, is emotional. pic.twitter.com/Idt9WhDqdu
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
32/ Trump inhales (between teeth with a forward pushing tongue) in an, "Okay, let's get this over-with" type of emotional tone (as one might say at the beginning of an anticipated painful experience), (0:50). pic.twitter.com/A4FG4CyzIF
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
33/ He sits forward on his chair (his baseline behavior, which may be in part due to his shoe/heel lifts) and interlaces his fingers (frustration).
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
34/ Trump closes his eyelids almost completely, hunches his shoulders, foreshortens his neck, tilts his head back — with his chin pushing forward (0:51). His fingers remain intertwined. This is a classic nonverbal cluster of Arrogance. pic.twitter.com/PfGViQq1dP
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
35/ In the very last frame of this video, we see Trump displaying another Tight Tongue Jut (Disdain, Disgust, and Repulsion). pic.twitter.com/dinrJuVPyE
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
36/ SUMMARY: Last night, during the fifth game of The 2019 World Series, Donald Trump was forcefully booed by a large percentage of the crowd. This was followed by loud and repeated chants to "Lock him up!".
continued …
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
37/ SUMMARY (continued): Trump reacted with self-repulsion and self-disdain. Although his pain was emotional, he looked as if he was in significant physical pain. The President also displayed bitter-regret, disbelief, and fear.
END
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) October 29, 2019
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